BRUSSELS, Belgium-A move by the European Commission to regulate satellite communications systems has been thwarted by the Telecommunications Council of the European Union.
The commission drafted a proposal last fall saying that licensing decisions elsewhere in the world-namely, the United States-would establish satellite phone operations that would cover Europe but had not been approved by a European jurisdiction.
The Commission sought urgent action at an EU level to coordinate satellite programs because systems are being rapidly deployed. However, strong doubts were expressed by a significant number of EU member delegations, according to EU reports.
Some nations were concerned about Commission authority over national governments, a matter that is part of an ongoing treaty review. Other delegates told international reporters that there was sufficient coordination of frequency allocation by organizations such as the International Telecommunications Union.
The proposal was sent back to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for future preparation. COREPER is comprised of ambassadors from member states who are permanently in Brussels appointed to EU institutions.
Last summer, the commission launched an investigation into two U.S.-led satellite phone systems, asking specific questions of Globalstar (Loral/Qualcomm Inc.) and Iridium (Motorola Inc.). European Commission Karel Van Miert, who is in charge of competition matters, said it was important that the companies “be screened from the outset under the EC competition rules.”
